NEW arrival Jackson Willison will be returning to familiar surroundings during Worcester Warriors’ training camp in France.

The 27-year-old centre played alongside former Warrior James Percival in France last term with Top 14 outfit Grenoble.

Willison used to live a short drive from Tignes, where Warriors are due to arrive today for a high altitude training camp.

And the New Zealand-born centre played twice last season against Clermont Auvergne, whom Warriors will face in their first warm-up match on Friday, August 12 (7pm BST).

“Tignes is only 40 minutes from Grenoble,” said Willison, who is part of Worcester’s 43-man travelling party.

“I have been to Tignes couple of times too but it wasn’t for rugby.

“It’s a beautiful place and the weather is going be nice too.

“There will be a lot of rugby and we are going to use the camp to get our team bonding together and we will be a better side off the back of it.”

Willison spent two seasons with Grenoble and arrived at Sixways just over three weeks ago.

“I managed two games against Clermont last season and they are a really good team,” said Willison.

“We will have to be well prepared for them.

“It will be our first pre-season game and we will have to be slightly mindful they start their Top 14 season the week after we meet them.

“There’s a lot of depth at Clermont – internationals and former internationals – and a strong foreign influence in the team and the coaching set-up.

"They have big, powerful runners who like to play with a bit of skill.”

Willison, who won the Super Rugby title in New Zealand with Chiefs in 2012, had his initiation ceremony with Warriors last week and believes he’s fitted in smoothly at Sixways.

“I have come from France and started pre-season training a month later than most of the lads, but I think I am on track and getting the help I need.

“I didn’t know many of the lads before I arrived but I had met Bryce Heem a couple of times in New Zealand and I had the delights of Coops (Cooper Vuna) getting in touch via social media.

“Percy (James Percival) was awesome with everything I needed to know about Warriors and the city, too.

“He was always there to give me advice and always had good things to say about the club.

“The transition to Worcester has been really good. I have also settled into the area and live to the west of Droitwich in a farm cottage.”